NRTL: BETRAYED by Nelson

December 19, 2009

The release from Nebraska Right to Life:

Nebraska Right to Life and pro-life Nebraskans have been betrayed by Senator Ben Nelson’s agreement with Democratic leadership to become their 60th vote for cloture on the Senate healthcare bill, propped up by abortion compromise language which in no way resembles the Stupak amendment in the House bill or the Nelson/Hatch amendment attempt in the Senate. Both of those amendments had protections against taxpayer funding of abortion.

“Senator Nelson had a chance to ensure that the longstanding principle of the Hyde Amendment against federal funding of abortion with narrow exceptions, would be placed in the Senate healthcare legislation. He dashed any hope of that with his late-night agreement with Senators Reid, Boxer and Schumer on unacceptable language that he claimed would address pro-life concerns.” said Julie Schmit-Albin, Executive Director of Nebraska Right to Life (NRL).

“Senator Nelson and his Chief of Staff, Tim Becker, called me last night at 7:30 p.m. Central time as a matter of ‘courtesy’, to let me know that he was pitching alternative language to Democratic leadership. We spoke for about 40 minutes.” said Schmit-Albin. “When I asked them at the outset of the conversation to include National Right to Life in the call they declined and said they were going with the language. Senator Nelson claimed that their newly-drafted concepts/language was Stupak-plus and that it would pass pro-life muster. When I countered that we had no assurance of that because we were not allowed to review the language, I was reminded that this was merely a courtesy call, not a call for our input or approval.”

“There is no pro-life Nebraskan more devastated by Senator Nelson’s actions than myself.” said Schmit-Albin. “I have defended his record to Nebraskans and believed that he would stand on pro-life principles as he has on numerous occasions in the past. I have had a good relationship with Senator Nelson and his staff throughout the years . I personally met with him on healthcare in July and in mid-November and have been in frequent contact with his staff over the past six weeks. Just Wednesday afternoon, I was apprised of the Casey language by his staff and I urged them to strongly relay to him that we could not support it. When he rejected the Casey language we were bolstered by that action and believed he would hold firm to his commitment to vote against cloture if Stupak language was not included.”

” Moreover, NRL Political Action Committee gave Senator Nelson a sole endorsement in his re-election race in 2006 based on his record and actions both as Governor and Senator.” said Schmit-Albin. “It is a very sobering day for myself personally and for pro-lifers across Nebraska and the nation. Senator Nelson obliterated the hope of pro-life Americans who saw him as the last man standing between expansion of government funding of abortion and the Hyde Amendment.”

“Nebraska Right to Life follows the lead of National Right to Life in opposing the passage of healthcare legislation containing such bogus abortion language and looks forward to NRLC ‘s scoring of all cloture votes on the issue.” said Schmit-Albin.

78 comments

I think the NRL needs to rethink their Incumbant only policy. There are some weak Pro-life Incumbants who are caving on important issues. It is a shame if a good Pro-life candidate has to compete against that endorsement just because the opponent is an Incumbant.

I would hope someone at this rally steps up and announces an exploratory committee for running against Nelson in 2012……this is one large step towards socialism in the US…the national spotlight is on NE, and the biggest-players in the NE GOP, the 'reddest of red-states', are NOWHERE to be found. Someone step up and lead. Absolutely reprehensible that Nelson is this powerful in a 'red-state.'

Fixed it is not. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) latest health care “manager’s amendment” would STILL levy a new “abortion premium” fee on Americans under the Democrats’ health care plan. Just like the original 2,032-page, government-run health care plan from Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) and the last version of Senator Reid’s 2,074-page bill, this latest 383-page amendment levies an abortion premium and does not fix the problem of government funds being used to subsidize elective abortions.

Under Reid’s “manager’s amendment,” there is no prohibition on abortion coverage in federally subsidized plans participating in the Exchange. Instead the amendment includes layers of accounting gimmicks that demand that plans participating in the Exchange or the new government-run plan that will be managed by the Office of Personnel Management must establish “allocation accounts” when elective abortion is a covered benefit (p. 41). Everyone enrolled in these plans must pay a monthly abortion premium (p. 41, lines 5-8), and these funds will be used to pay for the elective abortion services. The Reid amendment directs insurance companies to assess the cost of elective abortion coverage (p. 43), and charge a minimum of $1 per enrollee per month (p. 43, lines 20-22).

Anon 2:27,No typing while drunk from now on. I dont even know what you are trying to say. You failed miserably.

I haven't read the bill myself but according to foxnews.com

"Reid's bill sets up a mechanism to segregate funds used to pay for abortions from federal subsidy dollars.

No health plan would be required to offer coverage for the procedure. In plans that do cover abortion, beneficiaries would have to pay for it separately, and those funds would have to be kept in a separate account from taxpayer money.

Moreover, individual states would be able to prohibit abortion coverage in plans offered through the exchange, after but passing specific legislation to that effect. The only exceptions would be those allowed under current federal law."

Pro life voters need to get even more active. Look at legislative races. We have a strong pro life candidate in Lincoln against one of the most liberal, pro choice state senators, Amanda McGill. No matter where you live, get out there and help Tom Dierks get elected! Make phone calls, go door to door in his district. You can make this happen.

Anon: 10:37, Read the press release which StreetSweeper has graciously posted in its entirety. I don't think it could be any clearer. I got played by Ben Nelson. I was his biggest defender to detractors who pointed to votes where he swayed. He has decided to cast his lot with the man in the White House, not us. He obviously made a political calculation to go for it, get the concessions he wanted by using abortion as leverage. Despite the hours that they spent in negotiation coming up with this language, and even if he did think it handled our issue as he said to me in his phone call Friday night, it doesn't. And he bought into Harry Reid's timetable, thus not allowing National Right to Life to even see the language. I am absolutely crushed by the craven betrayal from a man and his staff whom I considered to be friends. To know that my allegiance to Ben helped to foist this on our nation will be a burden I have to carry.

Nathan, you are such an idiot. The article I read, and it was not off Fox, stated that if a person wanted abortion service in their plan, they would have to pay an additional $1 a month as a surcharge.

ONE FREAKING DOLLAR A MONTH TO DESTROY A BABY'S LIFE?!!!

Wow, that's cheap, who wouldn't want to get an abortion at that price?

You cannot "segregate" the money and say that that pile over there doesn't get used for abortions.

Even the FEC understands this which is why Federal candidates cannot accept corporate money-none, not even if they just use it for salaries, coffee, or donuts-none.

It's just like money laundering, once it's mixed in with the rest, it's all tainted.

Ben just voted to launder the money before providing abortions on demand to girls and women age 12 to 50.

Senator Kent Conrad just said on Fox News Sunday the Ben Nelson promise that the feds pay all Nebraska Medicaid expenses for the bill after 2016 is "Illusory" and can not bind future Congresses….BEN YOU LIED AGAIN

I wish all you "pro-lifers" would quit complaining and crying all the time…

How is this bill that Nelson voted YES on include federal money to pay for abortion? Please explain!

A state can opt-in or out of an exchange. If a state says yes we want government plans and that it should include abortion coverage, then those abortions will be paid for by a premium paid by the coverage holders. That money will be seperate from all other moneys.

Pro-lifers are too busy screaming to actually think and read the details.

This language turns the Hyde Amendment on its head…Turn the Phones on Ben!!!! This guy is going to vote at 1 am because he knows a vast majority of Nebraskans don't want this Bill!!! The Nelson legacy is tarnished. Even those in MCCOOK know this is sleazy move by Nelson.

Do you folks honestly think that women that seek an abortion would do so with no more concern than popping a zit? Some of you evidently have the idea that some women are just going out and getting knocked up just so they can undergo the procedure repeatedly. Your attitudes are nothing but crass and demeaning to women.

I would assume that any woman faced with the decision to abort a fetus – be it due to economic, social, familial, health related, or yes, even religious issues – never does so casually. It is, no doubt, a decision as fraught with doubt as the one of pulling the plug on a loved one that has a terminal disease. It is a decision that the woman will live with for the rest of her life and, depending on her own religious or moral beliefs, will often suffer from doubts to the end of her days.

I seriously doubt that there could be more than a handful of women that have undergone the procedure with the cavalier attitudes some of you ascribe to most of them. I believe it is something that most women that have undergone the experience regret as much as the circumstances that brought them to the decision.

So long as many of you could give a rat's ass about what happens to a child once it is born – denying them the health care that they'd need to grow into strong, healthy, contributing members of our society – I have to ask you, "Why do care whether they are born or not?" If you don't provide them a nourishing society after they are born, then the hypocrisy you demonstrate is glaringly obvious.

Ignore A1:36 Jane, some fools cannot tolerate intelligent, logical, hard working women and would prefer to be left alone in their fantasy worlds.

I find it very humorous that so many conservatives long for an America that never really existed, except on the TV screens in the 1950s. What really brings forth the guffaws is that many of the screenwriters that created that fantasy world were socialist gays. The irony is incredible.

A great day in Omaha, Nebraska, and the USA, where we finally see the possibility of health care for all. Thanks to Sen. Nelson and the other Dems for doing what was right. Boos and many hearty hisses to Sen. MJ for again being a loser afraid to lead and to Julie Ms. Keep 'Em Pregnant for again espousing ideology that she was 30 years ago. Time to move on past the old ideas of NRL and send Mike J. out to pasture.

Julie Schmitt-Albion is the one who betrayed Senator Nelson, not way around it. Senator Nelson stared down the full weight and breath of the liberal base of the Democratic party, got lamabsted all over the media and the blogosphere by his own party to defend the trust he'd established with NRLT. He won his concessions, the language of the bill was modified, and Senator Nelson was loyal to his pro-life allies.

Julie Schmitt-Albion is the turncoat in this situation. Julie Schmitt-Albion has come under fire from the Republicans for backing Nelson and she very cowardly threw him under a bus. She has given in to Fahleson's bullying tactics and betrayed an ally in order to keep some sort of measure of relevancy and power. Senator Nelson had the guts to stand up to his party, Julie Schmitt-Albion didn't. Shame on you Julie.

Julie, how can you masquerade as some sort of a pro-life spokeswoman when you callously disregard the 122 Americans that die everyday becauset they don't have healthcare?? Congratulations, you are now an irrelevant party hack.

I just donated a dollar to NRTL. There's 31 pieces of silver for you Judas.

Here's how federal dollars are going to fund abortion: if you are in a plan that will pay for abortions, you must pay a separate fee to fund abortions. That fee can be subsidized if you are low income and qualify for a subsidy. The states can opt-out, but there is still an insurance exchange that can sell between states, making the states' opt-out meaningless. The insurance exchange must have one plan that doesn't cover abortion. Wow. That's so generous of Harry Reid. Thank you, sir, for allowing my my conscience the choice of a single plan or jail. I'm so glad to be an American. If you opt for the other plans, you must pay for someone else's abortion. And there's nothing like an essentially free abortion to sway someone who is emotionally vulnerable. But then, if you are a Democrat, you think that getting an abortion is the highest form of patriotism.

I'm backing Julie on this one. Julie has never compromised on federal funding of abortion, Ben Nelson did. Julie supported the Stupak language, Nelson broke his promise on Stupak. You Dems just realized you screwed up and are desperate to blame anybody but Ben Nelson. We are with you Julie!

Hey who's writing Lee Terry's speech for the rally with Huckabee, his lobbyist/speechwriter?

And, WHoever the fool is who keeps posting that Nelson's "phones are off" get off it. In case you missed it DC was hit with the biggest storm in 20 years this weekend. Rembmer, Nelson is very prolife – he probably didnt want his staff to risk their lives to get into the office to take phone calls from losers like you.

Sweeper – question for you. Now come you haven't posted on the fact that the Offutt threat rumor was started by someone in Newt Gingrich's firm?

Benedict Nelson's support for this steaming pile of a bill was bad enough, but mark my words. Next month, like a dog returning to its vomit, you will hear those sycophant State Senators Mello and Nordquist on the floor of the legislature thanking Earl ad nauseum for supporting the bill and negotiating the additional MC reimbursement for Nebraska.

Nelson a few weeks ago refused to have his staff available during votes a few weekends ago. Johanns did!!! Read the news. Has Ben Nelson read the Bill??? Yet he feels it is right for Nebraska. I remember when he said anything less than the Stupak language would cause him not to cast his vote…What a liar!!!

Hey Julie. Admit it. You want women who are in horrible situations to be forced into back alleys and using coat hangers, even dying because of it. You do not support the kids once their born. Until you and every single anti abortion radical out their steps up and adopts at least a dozen kids, including the ones that are the older 'problem' children, you're all nothing but a bunch of hypocrits. You're pro fetal life, not pro life. Once born, the little suckers are on their own, and to hell with em'.

Will Nelson’s deal hurt his reelection changes in 2012? “I think I know Nebraska well enough to know that voters expect us to conduct ourselves in a way that makes Nebraskans proud,” says Johanns. “I’ll say this: If they make the conclusion that you haven’t done that, then you’re history.”

The New York Times has a detailed piece on all the secret and no so secret benefits in this bill. Ben isn't the only one who's been goin' earmarkin', but he's gotten a few. Aside from the "cornhusker kickback", free Medicaid forever (or until the GOP reverses it) we have a special exemption for a few physician-owned medical centers that allows doctors to refer Medicare patients to themselves. The lucky winner is the soon to be opened Bellevue Medical Center. I suppose there will be some minor amusement in identifying the campaign contributions from these doctors to the Benator.

Got to go to the bank to get thirty dimes to mail to Ben. I believe that's the traditional token of appreciation.

BTO, since I am all but certain that you have never had an abortion, let me fill you in. Most abortions do happen without thought of the end result, just the immediate need.

It is years later that the full impact of one's decision is truly felt.

I hope there are massive dollars for psych services for all women in this Bill. When they realize they got an abortion for $12 a year, they will need those services.

BTW, the going rate for abortions is $300 to $600 dollars. I honestly can't believe that small surcharge on the abortion option will cover all the free abortions Ben Nelson is seeking for pregnant women across this nation.

Where is the "We will never support Senator Nelson in any way at any time in the future." in NRTL's press release? If the SOB betrayed you and your interests, why not go on the record immediately permanently withdrawing any current/future support? He sold you, your supporters and your issue down the river just like all corrupt cops, judges and pols…they never stay bought.

BTO,A long time ago, I did volunteer work at Planned Parenthood's clinic in Omaha for several years. I can tell you that at least one third of those clients that came in with an unplanned pregnancy and were going to opt for an abortion were very cavalier about making that choice even when fully informed about all other options including adoption. You can choose to believe that or not, but that was my personal experience during that time period.

Geo, don't expect anything decent out of a pro choicer's mouth in response to your revelation that pro lifer's actually make efforts toward preventing pregnancies, assisting with options, other than raising the child themselves or even working at charitable organizations that assist the working poor with their family expenses.

He and others like him prefer to picture anti abortion Americans as crazy men and women that have no life and refuse to help the poor children and abused and pregnant women in this country.

Geo, your comments will fall on deaf ears because they shatter the comforting view of what a pro lifer really looks like to a baby killer.

I wonder how much of the $700,000 One World Health is going to spend by putting an employee in daycare centers and afterschool programs to get 6000 children signed up for the Federal Governments childrens insurance plans?

Couldn't they accomplish the same thing with robocalls and fliers in backpacks? or, 1 employee doing cold call sales at all those centers?

I wonder why the Democrats did not include the location in their release to the OWH about their Press Conference in Lincoln defending Nelson's actions. Is it possible that Heath Mello and Jeremy Nordquist wouldn't be able to handle live protesters at their Press Conference?

BTW, the Press Conference with the Dems supporting Ben Nelson's betrayal of Nebraska tax payers is at 10 a.m. this morning at The People's Health Center, 1021 North 27th Street in Lincoln.

If anyone can get there, they should, and let these 2 Omaha State Senators know that they will be held accountable for their support of their good friend Ben Nelson, just as he will be held accountable every day until Election Day 2012.

Sen B. Nelson is toast! 2010 will see the end of this congress as it is. The resounding defeat of Obama supported politicians will ring shore to shore. Sen. Nelson will see the writing on the wall and will bow out, or face the enduring wrath of Nebraskans.

Trying to launch some sort of US senatorial recall effort is a waste of time. It would require amendments to both the US and Nebraska constitutions and there are better, more effective amendments to both that would be much more useful in stripping both levels of government/politicians of power than a recall.

Nordquist and Mello are hitching their wagons to a Falling star. They will crash and burn along with TW and Sen Nelson.

At least they will have each other to keep company with. Years latter they will be staring at one another across a table and talk about what could have been if the simple folk of Nebraska would have let them take care of them. Oh well……

Nice try Anon, but you won't be able to change the subject that easily.

You're just pissed that Pelosi chickened out of putting the deby Ceiling Increase into the House Military Appropriation Bill. Had she done that, you could have had your fun by accusing Congressman Terry of "hating our troops".

You know exactly why Mike voted against that pork laden-special project for back home spending bill.

How about this, "Why do the Democrats hate our soldiers and their families so much that they have to continue to put the guilt of excessive spending on their backs?"

It is unfair to put pet projects into the Military Appropriations when they have nothing to do with National Security. A private plane for a bitch and a runway for a fat ass Chairman come to my mind.

Geouser: 8:31 a.m. I've been saying it all weekend, at the Rally yesterday and continuing in interviews today. Senator Nelson at some point made a calculated polticial decision when he decided to join Harry Reid's rush to Christmas and not let any new abortion language be properly vetted (see my press release above, it states that I asked him to let me get National Right to Life on the line but he told me he wasn't seeking input or approval on the new language). He knew when he did that it would cost him future support from NRL PAC and it has. At this point, I doubt Ben Nelson cares a bit about that because he would rather side with folks that can help him move on to bigger and better things. He no longer will have to "kow-tow" to the pro-life movement or seek pro-life endorsements because his friends on the left will take care of everything. And the whole thing is just sad and sickening from the perspective of someone who was apparently the last Nebraskan to talk to him before he walked back over to Harry Reid's office and said "let's do this." See politico.com 12/20/09 "In The End, It All Came Down To Abortion" for the details on what happened Friday night in Reid's office.

11.24,You forgot to add Kyle Michaelis and Lisa Hannah on that team of jackasses going down with that falling star. They've got their lips so tigthly grafted to Nelson that they look like gigantic zits on his butt.

Nordquist and Mello were not at the Lincoln event today. It was only Lincoln senators.

It's funny that there is so much talk about these two. You don't hear anyone talking about the GOP back benchers of McCoy and Price. That may be because no one knows if McCoy can even put a sentence together.

Perhaps, because McCoy and Price actually have families and jobs to do in their out of the Legislature time?

Why were only the Lincoln Democrats willing to stand in support of the Benator today? Where do the Omaha Senators stand on their US Senator taking a "bribe" for his vote?

Would they do the same? Hello, will Tom White be willing to "negotiate" "bribes" for his vote as an elected Democrat from Nebraska? Someone should go ask him if he will be schmoozed by Nancy Pelosi as easily as Nelson was jumped into bed with Harry Reid.

I am SO SICK and tired of the "you pro-lifers don't care about the baby afterwards."

BALONEY!!! The fact of the matter is that most women in that situation wo need help do not take the time to find the resources available. When I found out I was pregnant, I had just had my job reduced to part time..no insurance nothing.

I went to AAA pregnancy center. They counseled me, referred me to dcotors who work with medicare, gave me the medicare paperwork, offered me the chance to enroll in their parenting classes (upon completion of the parenting classes you get a FREE crib), credits to use in their baby store which has clothes etc, the Visiting Nurse Association will give you a free car seat once you complete their classes…

the list goes on and on…heck, I know one woman who did not have pregnancy insurance because she was not able to have kids and she got pregnant. She went and funf charities who paid for a signficant amount of her hospital bill. She owed close to nothing.

Whatever happened to personal responsiblity??

And don't say I want to keep women in alleys with coat hangers…I had an abortion at the age of 19, and I wish to God someone would've told me the depression I still feel to this day. They sure don't at the clinic…It is so pressed on you that it is "Your Body." They don't care, they just want your money.

Perhaps you would rather not discuss that sickening evidence of anti-life values in Nebraska? It sticks with me like an old horror film. I was there in Nebraska when the Benator threw the developmentally disabled and children in need of special education "under the bus." And I assure you that Julie and her minions strongly backed him even after those stark displays of "Nebraska Values." Perhaps Ben would not have been elected to the Senate if Julie and her minions had not boosted his ratings, eh?

Now I'm not saying that Texas does a great job of providing for the developmentally disabled, but, at least we don't practice institutional killing down here. Nebraska has a lot of shame in that regard and the Benator took the lead while he was Governor.

Do you suppose Nebraska will turn this outcome, fully federally-funded expanded Medicaid coverage, into something positive for the developmentally disabled? What about those multi-decades long waiting lists for services to the developmentally disabled? Perhaps if the developmentally disabled had places to go and things to do in their own communities, they wouldn't continue to be warehoused in nursing homes and at BSDC?

And PLEEZE, don't give me that rap about "personal responsibility." What about the personal responsibility of Nebraska's young people in need of taxpayer funded postsecondary education? Ever heard of a "waiting list" for them?

Take a chance, 9:17PM, and ask around among your Nebraska pro-life associates. What have THEY or JULIE done to promote "sanctity of life" for the developmentally disabled?

Texas Annie:YES…personal responsiblity. It takes two people to get pregnant.

It starts with not saying NO.Then it continues by not using birth control.

As far as benator throwing disabled children under the bus…I am not sure which action of his as governor you are referring too. From your post, I take it you are implying that pro lifers do not care about disbaled children? What actions have pro lifers taken that lead to your conclusion?

Let's be honest, DHHS in Nebraska is a mess. And the main problem is because it is too big of an agency. While senators and other state officials felt it would save money to combine several agencies–quality of services have been lost and the budget has increased.

I am no magic worker and either are you. But addressing a problem one point at a time seems to be much better then trying to move a mountain. With the attitude pressed upon by pro choicers that it is not a life it is just a group of cells, no wonder that devaluation has trickled down to disabled children.

And back to the issues I was addressing in MY post–which you seemed to ignore–wouldn't you say that many people do not take the time to research the avenues of help available to them. I guranatee you most people reading this did not know about the services I mentioned.All life is precious and valuable. And yes, I am against the death penalty.

Shoe Salesman: It's in our press release if you would read it and in politico.com 12/20/09 "In The End, It All Came Down To Abortion." Similar account to be found in AP article floating around yesterday and today about how Nelson's new language would be difficult to conference with Stupak language from the House. In case you didn't pick up on it, I was on the phone with Sen. Nelson and his Chief of Staff for 40 minutes from 7:30 pm-ish my time (8:30 DC). The first thing I requested was to conference in Doug Johnson, Federal Legislative Director from NRLC with whom I have been working daily on this, not to hand the call over to Doug or leave the call. Sen. Nelson declined to involve NRLC on the call because by that time he was on Harry Reid's timetable to get something to the floor early the next morning. Sen. Nelson proceeded to try to explain the convoluted language which we have all heard by now. I took six pages of notes and continued to protest that I was at a disadvantage if I couldn't bring Doug on the call. I was reminded that this was a courtesy call, not one seeking approval or input, so that I wouldn't wake up the next morning and see things unfolding on C-Span. I did not sign off on the language because I kept stating that without NRLC vetting it I could in no way be assured it was what we needed, much less Stupak. I also raised several other issues with Sen. Nelson, re: the Christmas timetable and that I had heard he had other issues now that could be taking a back seat to abortion. Indeed, the AP article confirms that "Nelson's home state concerns were handled by Friday noon" or something to that effect so they moved on to negotiation on abortion at that time. In fact, the AP article states that after Sen. Nelson returned to Reid's office (later than Reid, Schumer wanted), he confirmed that it was a no-sell to me but they went ahead with it. I can't and didn't sign off on language without involving NRLC's top legal/lobbying mind. Prior to this, we had had input on Nelson/Hatch amendment and the Casey amendment. We had no reason to believe we wouldn't be allowed the opportunity to vet anything else.

I know SS doesn't like links. Google "Abortion Deal May Be Hard To Keep In Health Bill" by AP reporter Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, 12/21/09 for more on the Friday night abortion negotiations in Reid's office.

In response to your query: "What actions have pro lifers taken that lead to your conclusion?"

My response is: "NOTHING."

And that's the problem. Pro lifers wear everyone out with their barrage of sanctity claims when it comes to fetuses or even gobs of fetal cells. But children living homeless don't matter. Children living in the custody of the state don't matter. And my pet peeve, children (and adults) with developmental disability most assuredly don't matter. And they haven't mattered in Nebraska for a very, very long time.

How ironic that Nebraskans spend soooo much (one of the top 10 states in the nation) for their public colleges and universities. Are the lives of those capable of seeking higher education more "sacred" than the developmentally disabled?

The eleven institutional killings which took place in Nebraska over the past year are at least as egregious as the death penalty (a popular form of punishment down here in Texas), which you hastened to note that you oppose.

Why no outcry about the killing of developmentally disabled persons?

I did not ignore your idea about personal responsibility for birth control and researching avenues of help [for unwanted pregnancy]. I just thought it was cliche'd.

Did you find the horror I expressed about the eleven institutional killings from BSDC merely a cliche'?

Happy New Year to you. Hope you may gain some understanding of why pro lifers, especially those in Nebraska, lack credibility when they argue for "sanctity of life." Ben Nelson is a good role model in that regard…